What does someone mean when they mention Mindfulness Meditation? According to Wikipedia "Mindfulness is a way of paying attention that originated in Eastern meditation practices" "Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally" "Bringing one's complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis".

Let's break this down a bit more with the benefits and various methods...

Decreased Stress and Anxiety

According to American Psychological Association, “MBCT is an eight-week, group-based program that incorporates mindfulness exercises including yoga, body awareness and daily homework, such as eating or doing household chores, with full attention to what one is doing, moment by moment.” Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) combines elements from mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Being mindful makes it easier to savor the pleasures in life as they occur, helps you become fully engaged in activities, and creates a greater capacity to deal with adverse events. By focusing on the here and now, many people who practice mindfulness find that they are less likely to get caught up in worries about the future or regrets over the past, are less preoccupied with concerns about success and self-esteem, and are better able to form deep connections with others.

Ability to Deal with Illness

In recent years, psychotherapists have turned to mindfulness meditation as a critical element in the treatment of a number of problems, including: depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, couples’ conflicts, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Increase Body Acceptance

Body Anxiety is a major source of suffering among women of all ages. If greater well-being isn’t enough of an incentive, scientists have discovered that mindfulness techniques help improve physical health in a number of ways. It can help relieve stress, treat heart disease, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, improve sleep, and alleviate gastrointestinal difficulties.

When you induce a state of total relaxation, which can be achieved through mindfulness meditation, yoga or other activities, you can obtain the benefits that include:

Higher brain functioning

Increased immune function

Lowered blood pressure

Lowered heart rate

Increased awareness

Increased attention and focus

Increased clarity in thinking and perception

Lowered anxiety levels

Experience of being calm and internally still

Experience of feeling connected

There is more than one way to practice mindfulness, but the goal of any mindfulness practice is to achieve a state of alert, focused relaxation by deliberately paying attention to thoughts and sensations without judgment. This allows the mind to refocus on the present moment. All mindfulness techniques are a form of meditation.

Basic mindfulness meditation – Sit quietly in a comfortable place and focus on your natural breathing or on a word or “mantra” that you repeat silently. Allow thoughts to come and go without judgment and return to your focus on breath or mantra. Example: "I am okay" or "I am strong, stable and at peace".

Body sensations – Notice subtle body sensations such as an itch or tingling without judgment and let them pass. Observe each part of your body in succession from head to toe.

Emotions – Allow emotions to be present without judgment. Practice a steady and relaxed naming of emotions: “joy,” “anger,” “frustration.” Accept the presence of the emotions without judgment and then gently let them go.

Urge surfing – Cope with cravings (for addictive substances or behaviors) and allow them to pass. Observe how your body feels as the craving enters. Replace the wish for the craving to go away with the certain knowledge that it will subside.

DISCLAIMER: Parts of this posts were taken from several articles found via Google. Please be aware that it is a combination of my own writing and others.

Hi, I'm Mandee Rose! I'm a 30 year old Graphic Designer/Photographer/Yoga Instructor. In my spare time I like to experiment with makeup application, craft props for my shoots and scout for new locations in my area. My specialty is to shoot fashion and artistic type of work where I can explore new ways to express my visions.

Born and raised in Connecticut, I moved to Los Angeles 4 years ago to pursue my creative career then ended up becoming a Certified Yoga Instructor. 200 Hour Power Yoga with CorePower Yoga and 50 Hour Yin Yoga with Bianca Fearon. When I'm not expressing my love for all things art, I teach Power Flow/Fusion/Restorative/Yin Yoga to all levels and ages. I've been personally practicing for the last 7 years and teaching for 2. For me, sharing Yoga is my way of giving back to the world. Restoring our bodies and minds to a natural state of consciousness. Yoga has been a mental and physical release for me. My initial reason for practicing was to help heal my Scoliosis and to become more aware of my Hyper Mobility. You can find me photographing live subjects of all kinds, practicing with two blocks always or making my favorite smoothie bowls.